Iran threatens retaliation after US seizes cargo ship

Iran’s military is threatening to retaliate after the U.S. seized one of its cargo ships traveling through the Gulf of Oman over the weekend. 

The operational command for Iran’s military, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a statement vowing to take “necessary action against the terrorist U.S. military” according to The Associated Press. 

It also offered an explanation for why Iranian forces didn’t fight back against U.S. Marines, when they boarded the ship, named Tokusa. U.S. soldiers said they warned the vessel to stop repeatedly over a six-hour period.

“Due to the presence of some family members of the ship’s crew, they faced constraints in order to protect their lives and ensure their safety, as they were in danger at every moment,” Khatam al-Anbiya said. 

The U.S. has declared a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and turned around more than a dozen vessels attempting to cross the waterway. 

On Saturday, President Trump said U.S. soldiers would board Iranian-linked ships to increase economic pressure on Tehran to end the war and agree to a long-term ceasefire. 

Negotiations surrounding a peace deal were supposed to take place this week in Islamabad, but Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said they have no plans on attending talks, according to the AP.

However, two Pakistani officials told the news Iran is still open to holding a second round of talks as international pressure to end the war and reopen the strait ramps up. 

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